Apparatus for preparing printed matter



Jan. 21, 1964 D. J. LYNCH APPARATUS FOR PREPARING PRINTED MATTER Filed March 20, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

J. LYNCH ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1964 D. J. LYNCH APPARATUS FOR PREPARING PRINTED MATTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1961 PIC-5.7

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INVENTOR. DAVID J. LYNCH 4 44 ATTORNEY Jan. 21, D. J. LYNCH APPARATUS FOR PREPARING PRINTED MATTER Filed March 20, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 FIG. IO

INVENTOR. DAVID J. LYNCH ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,118,680 APPARATUS FQR lPEPAFLENG Pit-ANTED MATTER David .i. Lynch, Malverne, NE. (246 Earl: Ave, New Hyde Park, NE.) Filed Mar. 2%, 1951, Ser. N 96,889 14 Claims. (ill. 276-37) This invention relates to an apparatus for preparing printing matter. More particularly, it includes the combination of a unique assembly of printing elements or symbols to be employed in the printing matter, a device for severing selected ones of the assembled printing elements from each other and a stamp holder that receives and locks the severed printing elements in a predetermined relation with each other to form the printing matter.

The present invention may find analogy in conventional hand printing stamps wherein the printing type or symbols thereof generally have a resilient or rubber back that enables the printing type to be inserted into an opening provided in the ham. printing stamp. Such hand stamps are usually composed by grasping each one of the separate printing elements with an eye brow tweezers, and then by properly manipulating the tweczer, the rubber or resilient back is squeezed to reduce its size to enable the same to be inserted into the opening of the hand stamp. To those skilled in the art, it will be recognized that this procedure of inserting printing type elements into a slot is cumbersome, tiresome, time consuming and consequently extremely expensive, Furthermore, great difficulty is encountered, even by those professedly skilled in the art, in properly aligning the individual type elements with each other in the opening of the stamp holder. Hence, it frequently happens that certain of the type elements are canted or disaligned with others of the type elements in the same opening and at times inserted upside down. M reover, their relative spacing is often uneven and because it is sometimes extremely difficult to insert the same in the hand stamp opening, the same often become dislodged and lost during use.

in establishments, such as aircraft factories and the like where it is necessary to prepare and use many hundreds of stamps to mark parts of the aircraft, it is indeed a time consuming and expensive procedure to prepare hand stamps by the tedious tweezer picking of the individual printing elements and the insertion of the same in the opening of the hand stamp. Accordingly, the desideratum of this invention is to provide an apparatus for preparing printin matter quickly and easily, without the requirement of special aptitudes or skills, hence, inexpensively.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention, a resultant feature thereof resides in the ability to automatically align each element of the printing matter with the other in a uniquely arranged stamp holder that is adapted to cooperate and form an integral part of a severing device which operates upon a length of predeterminately shaped printing material containing the desired printing elements or symbols in assembled spaced relation along the length thereof.

it is another object of the invention to provide an assembly of printing material having a novel arrangement of construction whereby the same may be uniquely adapted to cooperate with a severing device that can sever selected portions of the printing material and enable rapid assembling of such severed portions in a specially designed track of a stamp holder.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for preice paring printing matter constructed in accordance with the teaching of the invention,

2 is a perspective view of the opposite side of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the severing device and novel assembly of printing material to be severed thereby,

FIG. 3 is a partial section of FIG. 1 taken along lines 3-3,

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of FIG. 3 taken along lines 44,

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical section of FIG, 3 taken substantially along lines 5-5 and showing the parts of the severing device in their type positioning relation,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the parts of the severing device in their full severing position,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the assembly of printed material,

FIG. 8 is a section of FIG. 7 taken along lines 8-8,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the stamp holder of the invention,

FIG. 10 is a section of Fla. 9 taken along lines NI -ll and showing the placement of severed printing elements arranged therein in unlocked condition,

FIG. 11 is a partial section of FIG. 10 taken along lines ll-ll thereof and illustrating the locked condition of the printing elements therein, and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified stamp holder.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus for preparing printing matter of the invention is generally identified by the numeral 14 and comprises a severing device that is generally identified by the numeral 16, a stamp holder generally identified by the numeral 18, and an assembly of printing material generally identified by the numeral 26'. Thus, the composite apparatus 14 includes the severing device 16, the stamp holder 15: and the assembly 29, each to be separately described in the following specification.

In order to proceed with an orderly description of the features of the invention, reference is now had to the assembly of printing material generally identified by the numeral 24) and more fully illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings. The assembly of printing material 22' comprises a plurality of longitudinally elongated bodies 22 each extending in parallel relationship with respect to the other and connected at their one ends by a member 24. The connecting member 24 serves to retain said one ends of the bodies 22 together from relative displacement and in their substantially parallel relationship. Each body 22 is similar in construction to the next adjacent body. They are molded integral with each other and with the connecting member 24 as a sheet from a flexible plastic material such as polyvinyl, thereby enabling the same to be bent or flexed as shown in FIG. 7 to permit simple handling and reasonable manipulation of the same when utilized in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

When the assembly of printing material 20 is initially molded, the same is in the form of a continuous sheet, including the bodies 22 raised therefrom. The bodies 22 are thus joined together in their parallel relationship throughout all or a substantial portion of their lengths by an integral joining portion 26. The height of the joining portion 26 is not critical, except, however, that it may be of such minor size as to retain the adjacent bodies 22 in their parallel relationship and yet to permit the same to be manually and physically separated therefrom as shown in FIG. 7 when the adjacent bodies are bent as illustrated. Thus, the sole function of the joining portion 26 is to permit the assembly 20 to be molded as an integral sheet. However, the height and widthwise di- 'vide spacer portions between words and symbols.

mensions of the joining member 26 are such as to easily permit the same to be severed from the adjacent bodies 22 by a simple tearing motion thereby allowing relative movement of the bodies along their lengths while they remain connected together at their other ends to the connecting member 24.

Each one of the plurality of separate bodies 22 has formed along the opposite sides thereof, pairs of stepped track or guide surfaces 28 and 3t) defining locking ledges 29 therebetween. The very slightly roughened surface 31 resulting from the tearing separation of the joining portion or member 26 does not interfere with the function of the lower pair of track surfaces 28 because the whole of the assembly 2% is molded of a flexible plastic material that is adapted to yield when placed under pressure as will become clearer as the description proceeds.

Because the underside of the assembly 29 resembles that of a sheet, the base surface 32 thereof is substantially planar. The opposite top surface 34 of each of the bodies 22 is also substantially planar and, hence, defines with the pairs of stepped track surfaces 28 and 30, and ledges 29, an inverted substantially T-shape. The top surfaces of the bodies 22 may be provide dwith a plurality of reversely arranged raised printing elements 36 taking the form of well known alphabetical type or other symbols that may be required for printing purposes and in the composition of the printing matter. The raised printing or type elements 36 are molded integral with the top surface 34 and arranged in equally spaced relationship along the length thereof.

In the molding of the assembly 20, the track surfaces 28 and 30, as well as the defining surfaces of the raised type elements 35, have a slight angle or draft to permit the same to be removed and lifted free of the mold. In order that a more rapid identification of the symbolic representation of the type elements 36 contained on each of the bodies 22 may be made, the connecting member 24 is also provided with a raised identifying symbol 38 that corresponds to and is in longitudinal alignment with the adjacent body 22 and with the raised type elements 36 formed thereon. The identifying symbol 38 is slightly larger in size than the type elements 36 and thus may be more readily visible and apparent to the user.

In the present explanation and illustration of the as sembly 20, only a few difierent type elements 36 are shown. In practice, however, it has been found expedient to include on a single sheet assembly of printing material all of the letters of the alphabet, including those numerals and symbols normally found in a printing shop and in addition thereto, any other symbols that may be specifically required to meet the needs for specialized uses. The style or shape of the elements 36 is immaterial and may be made according to order to meet the specific requirements of the user. However, by connecting all of the bodies 22 together with the connecting member 24, special arrangements of type and symbols will be held in related and unitary relationship and thus readily available to the user.

It will be readily understood that under certain circumstances, each of the bodies 22 may be disconnected from the connecting member 24 thereby resulting in a plurality of elongated strips of flexible plastic material each of which contains their own distinct groups of symbols spaced along the length thereof. Each body 22 of flexible molded material may then be severed anywhere along its length in accordance with the desires of the user. In the practice of the invention, it is not necessary, therefore, that the bodies 22 remain in connected relationship with the member 24 although it is convenient to keep symbols of the same type style together. It has also been found expedient in practice to provide additional bodies 22 free of symbols or type elements on their top surfaces 34 since it is oftentimes necessary to pro- Such smooth surfaced bodies may be then severed to serve 4 as the spacer elements in the completed assembly of printing matter to be retained in the stamp holder 18 in a manner to be described.

Meferring now to the severing device 15 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive, it will be noted that the same cornprises a frame 4%. The frame is disposed substantially vertically and may be held in this position by suitably securing the same to any convem'ent base support 42 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). Although the base support 42 may be part of any convenient table surface, in actual practice, the frame has been secured to a base 42 constructed of a heavy metal material that will prevent unwanted tilting or upsetting of the overall apparatus.

Frame 4%) has a pair of spaced walls 4-4 that serve to define a substantially U-shaped opening therebetween in which a type holder 46 is adapted to be moved. The type holder is block-shaped and has a pair of transersely spaced guide slots 48 defined therein to engage along the sides of the walls 44 thereby serving to guide the movement of the type holder along the path of the opening between the walls 44. Defined within the type holder 45 is a longitudinally extending track 5t? that extends for the full length thereof and has an inverted T- shape, the surfaces, not numbered, but which coincidingly correspond with the pairs of stepped track stu'faces 28 and 3d, and ledges 29 provided on each of the bodies 22 of the printing material 249.

Thus, the track 5%) is adapted to guidingly receive the stepped track surfaces 28, 3t and ledges 29 of each of the bodies 22 to enable such bodies to be smoothly moved therealong and to be supported on the type holder 46 for movement therewith. In order to facilitate the rapid and facile insertion and entry of the body of printing material 22 in the track 50, its entranceway is provided with a widened mouth 52 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 6). A transversely disposed slot or opening 54 is defined in the type holder 46 to extend across the track 50 to accommodate a severing means 56 that has a sharp knife edge 58.

The severing means 56 is provided with an elongated slot 6%) at its rear end through which a screw or other fastening means 62 is inserted to secure the same to the frame 40. The forward end of the severing means 56 may be retained from upward tilting movement by abutting against the lower edge of a pin 64 mounted on the frame 44 The cutting or knife edge 58 of the severing means 56 may be properly positioned by raising the type holder block 46 upward until the edge 58 seats parallel against the lower flat surface of the transversely disposed slot 54. When so positioned, the severing means 56 then may be tightly screwed into the frame 49 thereby securely fixing the severing means 56 so its cutting edge 58 is parallel and in perfect alignment with the base of the slot 54.

Mounted for transverse sliding movement on a surface of the frame 49 is a type positioning arm 66. The arm 66 is provided with a manually engageable finger 68 that permits the same to be moved transversely along the frame 4% and across the top of the type holder 46 above the severing slot 54 defined therein. To permit the accomplishment of this movement, the type positioning arm 66 is provided with a slot '70 of elongated length and through which one or more mounting members, such as the screws or rivets 72, pass to fasten the same to the surface of the frame The length of the slot 70 permits the movement of the positioning arm '65 into com plete overlying relationship with the track 59 of the type holder 46 as shown in dot-dash lines in FIGS. 3 and 4.

To provide for greater accuracy during the operation of the positioning arm 66, the same is provided with a lower knife-like edge 74 that does not perform any cutting or severing function but is adapted to be moved between the equally spaced type elements 35 provided on the body 22 inserted in the track 59 of the type holder 46. FIG. illustrates the operation of the positioning arms 65. There, it will be noted that its lower knifelike edge 74 is in substantial vertical alignment with the knife-like edge 58 of the severing means 56. The slop- :ing Walls defining the edge 74 on the arm 66 are directed along substantially the same angles as the draft provided on the raised type elements 36, as previously described. Hence, the sloping defining walls of the knife-like edge 74, engaging the sloping or draft walls of the raised type elements 3% to properly position the same so that the mid point of the space between adjacent type elements 36 will be in exact vertical alignment with the severing edge 58 of the severing means 56.

It will be recognized, therefore, that when a body 22 is guidingly moved in the track 5* of the type holder 4-6 by Way of the entranceway 52, the type elements 36 thereon may be accurately positioned beneath the knife edge 58 to be severed thereby from the remainder of the body 22. This is accomplished by manually sliding the positioning arm 56 so that its knife-like edge 74 engages between and with the walls of two adjacent ones of the type elements 36 as shown in FIG. 5.

After the body 22 is properly positioned for severing beneath the severing means 56, the arm 66 is manually engaged at its finger 68 and withdrawn from overlying relation with the slot 54 and with the type elements 36 therein. In passing, it might be noted that to enable the more accurate location and vertical alignment of the knife-like edge 7 with the cutting or knife edge 58 thereabove, the frame 4t} is provided with a further depressed groove 76 in which the positioning arm 66 slides. The walls of the depressed groove 76 guide the accurate movement of the positioning arm 66 and enable the knifelike edge 74 thereof to be depressed into the surface of the frame 48 so that the same will have vertical alignment with the cutting edge 53 thereabove.

Because at times it may be necessary to sever portions of the bodies 22 that do not include ty e elements 36 thereon and wherein such body portions will serve as spacers between certain words or symbols, there is provided on a visible portion of the top surface of the type holder 46, an indices 78. The indices 78 may be spaced in accordance with standard printing requirements and thus permit a plain strip of body 22 to be inserted in the track 5 3 at the mouth 52 thereof so that its leading edge may be aligned with anyone of the desired marks of the indices '78 to permit accurate severing of that portion of the body to provide the desired space in the printing matter.

When once the body 22 is positioned in the track 59 in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 5 and the positioning arm as is withdrawn to its inactive position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a relative movement of the type holder 46 and the severing means 56 will cause the body 22 to be severed by the knife edge 53 as the same enters the transverse slot 54 of the type holder. In the present invention, the type holder 46 is formed of a reasonably light weight material that is easily manipulated along its guided path of movement of the opening provided by the defining walls 44 of the frame 49. It is caused to move vertically upward along the path of said opening by the finger manipulation of a mover means taking the form of a lever 30.

The lever 53% has a finger depressing surface 82 at its uppermost edge. It is pivoted about a fulcrum pin 84- that mounts the same to the frame as. Its lower actuating end has a smoothly curved cam surface 86. Consequently, when a downward depressing force is manually applied, as for example by the finger of a hand, to the lever 3% at the surface 82 thereof, the same will be caused to pivot at its fulcrum 84 thereby lifting the actuating cam surface end 86. As the cam surface -36 is lifted, it rides along the underside of the type holder 45 moving and lifting the same upwardly in the opening between the defining walls dd until the knife edge 58 penetrates, cuts through, and fully severs the preselectedly positioned portion of the length of the body 22 previously positioned therebeneath by the type positioning arm 66. After the severing operation is completed, the finger pressure on the lever surface 32 may be removed to permit the lever to return to its initial inactive position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 by the pressure of the falling weight of the type holder 46 acting against the smoothly curved cam surface 86 therebeneath.

The stamp holder generally identified by the numeral 18 is more clearly illustrated in F183. 9, l0 and 11. It comprises an elongated housing 88 havin a pair of spaced vertically disposed walls 9% extending longitudinally for the full length thereof. Each wall 99 terminates in a laterally inward directed surface 92. that also extends for the full length thereof. Surfaces 92 are laterally spaced from each other a distance that is less than the space between their respective walls 9d. Positioned within the space between the vertically disposed walls 99 and extending for substantially the full length thereof is a platform member 94. The height of the platform member 94 is less than that of the walls 9% and thus permits vertical adjustment thereof between the base and the inward directed surfaces Q2.

,Rotatably mounted in the platform 94 is an adjustment means in the form of a screw 3 that is threadediy engaged in a complementary tapped hole 1% provided in he housing. In consequence, rotation of the adjustment means 95; in the tapped hole 1% will cause the platform 94- to raise or lower with respect to the base 95 and thus increase or decrease the height of the space between the top planar surface of the platform and the inward directed surfaces $2 of the housing. A lock nut W2 is rthreadedly mounted on the 'adiustment means 98 for movement therealong and into tight abutting engagement with the underside of the housing so that the adjustment means and the platform may be locked in their adjusted position by the lock nut. An insert 104 is secured to the lower end of the adjustment screw 98 to enable the same to be securely connected with a manually operated handle 3 26.

One or more of the sides of the housing 83 may be provided with ruled ma or indices 1%. In the present invention the indices have their center or 0 marking at the mid point between the opposite longitudinal ends of the housing 83 thereby enabling the accurate positioning of type elements on the stamp holder and to enable even spacing of such type elements therealong. The platform 94-, the border side walls 94 and the inward directed surfaces 92 cooperate to define a guiding track, the cross-sectional appearance of which corresponds and coincides with the track Ell of the type holder 46 and the pairs of track surfaces 28, 3t? and ledges 29 of the bodies 22.

in practice, the housing $3 of the stamp holder 13 is provided with locating or positioning means fill that is adapted to cooperate with coinciding locating or position- 'mg means 112 provided on the type holder as. Obviously it is a matter of choice whether the positioning means 112 be on the type holder as and the receiving female positioning means 119 on the housing 11% of the stamp holder 38. However, in use, it been found more converient to provide the male protruding positioning means 112 on the type holder 46 because when the stamp holder is manually operated with the protruding means 112 thereon, the same sometimes serves as an unnecessary or unwanted obstruction.

In actual use, the stamp holder 18 is joined to the type holder 46 by inserting the protruding positioning means 112 into the female receiving positioning means lit This manner of jointure accurately locates and retains the track of the stamp holder is in longitudinal alignment with the terminating end or" the track 553 of the severing device 16. If the adjustment means 98 is rotated to lower the platform 9 of the track into horizontal alignment with or slightly below the base of the track 5%, as shown in FIG. 6, it will be recognized that as portions of the bodies 22 are severed in the manner previously described during the operation of the lever 3t such severed body portions may be easily slid out of the exit end of the type it l'der tract: 5t directly onto the upper surface of the platform 94- in the manner as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6'.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the words First Class are in the process of being formed by severing reversely arranged type elements 36 from selected ones of the bodies 22- of the assembly of printed material 29. The words First and Class are separated by a spacer 114. Such spacer may have been obtained from a body 22 that has been devoid of type elements and may have been measured accurately by positioning the same in alignment with one of the marks of the indices 78 on the type holder 46.

After all the type elements necessary to compose the printing matter have been severed by the device 16 and slid onto the platform 9 and into the confines of the track of the stamp holder 18, same may be accurately located along the length of the track of such stamp holder by guiding the same with respect to the indices markings M8 on the outer surface of the housing 88. The type elements are easily handled because the lowered platform provides no restriction to their movement. When properly positioned along the track of the stamp housing 18, the adjustment means $3 is then threaded upward along the tapped hole 1% and into the housing 83 thereby raising the platform As the platform 94 is raised, the ledges 29 move into progressively tighter engagement with tie undersides of the surfaces 92 while the facing edges of the surfaces engage with the track surfaces 3% and the walls 93 serve to engage the surfaces 28 and guide their upward movement. This relationship of surfaces results in automatically aligning the type elements of the spaced words First and Class with each other in the track of the housing 83. Clearly, as the platform is moved closer to the surfaces 92, it more tightly secures and locks the printing material in place. The flexible and resilient nature of the bodies 22 enable the same to be placed under locking pressure without ruptune.

The modification of the stamp holder shown in FIG. '12 is generally identified by the numeral 12% and is basically the same as the stamp holder 18 previously described. For that reason, therefore, similar parts are identified by similar numerals. The stamp holder 12% is intended to function in exactly the same mannen as the previously described stamp holder 13 The sole distinction between the two is that the stamp holder 12% of HG. 12 enables the same to be stacked or ganged together with similarly constructed stamp holders for the printing or stamping of more than one line of printing matter.

In referring to FIG. 12, it will be noted that the stamp holder 129 is provided with a male V-shaped tongue 122 having angulmtly inwardly disposed locking surfaces 124. The tongue 122 extends laterally from a side of the housing'ds and for substantial-l the full length thereof. It is adapted to cooperate with a similarly shaped 'coincidingly arranged receiving groove 326 that has angularly disposed longitudinally extending surfaces 128 adapted to be engaged by and in locking securement with the surfaces 124 of a next adjacent tongue 122. The manner of coopera- [tive arrangement and stacking or gauging of the stamp holder 12% is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 12 by the illustration of a second stamp holder 12%) shown in phantom lines. Hence, if at times, it is necessary to provide printing matter having more than one line, numerous individual stamp holders 12%) may be composed with their respective lined printing matter and stacked together in the manner illustrated in 12.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as 8 applied to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operations may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. it is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A device for severing desired lengths of printing material from a strip thereof comprising a frame severing means on said frame, a holder on said frame, guide means on said holder including recessed surfaces to position said material on said holder for movement relative thereto and to said severing means, means operable on said frame to selectively position a desired length of said material on said holder for movement relative to said severing means, means on said holder to indicate the positioned desired length of said material to be moved relative to said severing means, and means operable to cause said holde and severing means to move relative to each other to sever said desired length of material.

2. A severing device comprising a frame having a vertically disposed slot-shaped opening, a holder having a longitudinally directed track extending from one end thereof to the other, said track having an inverted substantially T-shape, guide slots defined along the outer sides of said holder to receive the defining walls of said opening of said frame for guided sliding movement relative thereto and therealong, severing means on said frame in the path of movement of said holder along said opening, said holder having an opening defined therein extending transverse of said track for the reception of said severing means, and means on said frame to move said holder along said opening.

3. A severing device comprising a frame having an opening defined therein, a holder having a track including guide surfaces extending from one end thereof to the other, means on said holder to guide the same for movement in the opening of said frame, severing means on said frame in the path of movement of said holder along said opening, said holder having a slot defined therein extending transverse of said track for the reception of said severing means, and lever means pivotly mounted on said frame to move said holder, said lever means having a cam surface progressi ely engageable therealong with said holder to slidingly move the same upwardly along said opening to a severing position.

4. A print preparing apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame, a holder on said frame, knife means on said frame for severing type material, means on said dirame to cause relative movement of said holder and knife means to and from a severing position, track means in said holder for guiding the movement of type material relative to and with said holder, said track means including a plurality of relatively spaced surfaces; a length of severable type material having relatively spaced track surfaces coinciding :with and for cooperative guided movement along said surfaces of said track means, said length of type material guided for movement along said track means surfaces being movable with said holder to and from the severing position to have a portion thereof severed by said knife means and movable relative to said holder along said track means surfaces.

5. A print preparing apparatus as in claim 4, said track means extending for the full length of said holder, and said type material being received in one end of said track means and the severed portion thereof being removable from said track means at the other end thereof.

6. In a print preparing apparatus, the combination of a severab le type material comprising a body of elongated length, stepped tracked surfaces formed along opposite sides of said both said body having a planar base and a top surface having a plurality of raised type elements molded integral therewith in lengthwise spaced relationship therealong; a device to sever predetermined lengths of said type material comprising a type holder and severing means relatively movable into and out of type material severing position, said type holder having track means of a shape to coincide with said stepped track surfaces to receive and predetemninately position the same therein, means on said device to sever said predeterminately positioned type material received in said track means, and means on said device to cause said relative movement of said type holder and severing means into said type severing position.

7. An assembly of printing material com rising a sheet of flexible molded material including a plurality of longitudinally elongated bodies extending in parallel relationship with respect to each other and connected at their one ends with each other, means on said one end of said bodies connecting the same in said parallel relationship, means between adjacent ones of each of said bodies joining the same together throughout their lengths to retain the same in their parallel relationship, said joining and connecting means being separable from said bodies to pr vide a plurality of separate bodies each of which has a plurality of stepped track surfaces along opposite sides thereof to define an inverted substantially T-sha-pe, the base of which is substantially planar and the opposite top surface includes a plurality of raised type elements spaced longitudinally therealong and integral therewith, and said connecting means having molded integral therewith raised elements each symbolically corresponding to and in longitudinal alignment with said raised type ele ments on said respective bodies connected therewith at their one ends.

8. An assembly of printing material comprising a sheet of material having a connecting means, a plurality of longitudinally extending bodies each of flexible material connected together at their one ends with said connecting means, each of said bodies including track cooperating surfaces along the opposite longitudinal sides thereof, a substantially planar base and a continuous substantially planar top sunface, at least some of said bodies having a plurality of raised type elements molded integral with and projecting upward from the planar top surface thereof and spaced relative to each other therealong, said connecting means having elements each symbolically corresponding to and in substantial longitudinal alignment with corresponding ones of said raised type elements on said respective bodies connected therewith.

9. An assembly of printing rraterial as in claim 8, and means molded integral with said plurality of bodies toretain he same in spaced relationship and removable therefrom to permit relative movement therebetwveen.

10. in an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a type material, a device for severing said type material, and a stamp holder to retain said evered type material; said type material comprising a plurfiity of bodies molded of flexible plastic material and adapted to be severed along portions of their lengths, each of stud bodies having a type surface includin type elements predeterminately spaced longitudinally therealong, the type elements of certain of said plurality of bodies being symbolically diiferent from the type elements of certain others of said plurality of said bodies, means connecting each of said plurality of said bodies together, and a plurality of spaced track surfaces on each of said plurality of bodies; said severing device comprising a frame, severing means on said frame, a holder on said frame, track means on said holder including surfaces corresponding to and coopcrable with said track surfaces of said type material to retain a selected one of said bodies thereon for movement relative to said severing means, means operable on said frame to position a desired length of said selected one of said bodies on said holder for movement relative to said severing means, and means operable on said frame to cause said holder and severing means to move relative to each other to sever a portion of said selected one of said bodies; and said stamp holder comprising a housing having a platform movable therein, means on said housing cooperable with said platform to form a track including surfaces corresponding to said track surfaces of said type material for the reception of said severed portions of said bodies, means on said housing to move said platform relative to said last named means to reduce or enlarge the height of said track to lock or release said body portions therein, and means on said housing and type holder to position the tracks thereof in alignment With each other.

11. In an apparatus of the ohanacter described, the combination of type material comprising a body of flexible molded material being adapted to be severed along portions thereof, said body being elongated in length and having a plurality of spaced track surfaces thereon, a substantially planar surface, a plurality of symbolically alike type elements equally spaced longitudinally along said substantially planar surface and adapted to be severed therewith from said remainder of said body; a severing device comprising a type holder thereon having a track including a plurality of spaced surfaces corresponding to and to engage said track surfaces of said body to support said body, means on said device to guide said body along a path of movement into and out of severing posit-ion, severing means on said device disposed in the path of movement of said body to sever a portion of the same when moved into type severing position; and a stamp holder comprising a housing ha 'ing a track including a plurality of spaced surfaces corresponding to and to engage said track surfaces of the severed body portions of said type material, means on said housing and type holder cooperable to position their respective track surfaces in alignment with each other, means on said housing to lock said severed body portions of type material in said track thereof.

12. in an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a type severing device comprising a type holder having a track defined therein, said track including a plurality of relatively spaced recessed surfaces, severing means normally spaced from said type holder, means to move said type holder and severing means relative to each other, a frame including guide means to guide said type holder and severing means for said relative movement, said moving means being mounted on said frame, and alignment means on said type holder; a stamp holder comprising a longitudinally extending housing having a track defined therein including a plurality of surfaces coextensive with and corresponding to said type holder track surfaces and extending for the full length thereof, means defining a part of said stamp holder track and being adjustable to vary the height thereof, means on said housing to variably adjust said adjustable means, and alignment means on said housing cooperable with said alignment means on said type holder to longitudinally align the respective track surf-aces thereof coextensive with each other.

13. A device for severing desired lengths from a strip of printing material comprising a holder having slot-ted guide means defined therein to maintain a length of said material in said holder and for guided movement therealong, knife means positioned adjacent the guided pa h of movement of said material to sever said material a ong a desired length thereof, said holder and knife means having relative movement, a frame mounting said holder and knife means for said relative movement, said frame having a wall with a U-shape and said holder having slots, said wall and slots engaging for guiding said relative movement of said holder and knife means and mover means on said frame including means to cause said holder and knife means to move relative toward each other to cause said knife means to sever said material maintained in said holder at a desired length thereof and operable to allow said holder and knife means to move relative away from each other after said length of material has been severed.

14. An apparatus for preparing printing mater-id from a strip of type material having a plurality of track surfaces along the length thereof; said apparatus comprising a severing device to sever portions of said type materid, said severing device including a type holder and knife means to sever said type material, said type holder having a track including a plurality of surfaces corresponding to the track surfaces of said type material to guidingly receive said strip of type material therein, said knife means and said type holder track being relatively movable and said strip of type material received in the track of said type holder being adapted to be severed during the relative movement of said type holder track and said knife means to sever said type material, and means to cause said knife means and said type holder track to move relative to each other; and a stamp holder including a track having a plurality of surfaces corresponding References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 386,459 Entreliin July 24, 1888 628,147 Jones July 4, 1899 691,715 Dodd Jan. 21, 1902 828,704 Black-more Aug. 14, 1906 1,369,512 Winne Feb. 22, 1921 1,382,015 Rudolph June 21, 1921 1,570,217 Green Jan. 19, 1926 1,668,918 Lotz May 8, 1928 

11. IN AN APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, THE COMBINATION OF TYPE MATERIAL COMPRISING A BODY OF FLEXIBLE MOLDED MATERIAL BEING ADAPTED TO BE SEVERED ALONG PORTIONS THEREOF, SAID BODY BEING ELONGATED IN LENGTH AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED TRACK SURFACES THEREON, A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR SURFACE, A PLURALITY OF SYMBOLICALLY ALIKE TYPE ELEMENTS EQUALLY SPACED LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR SURFACE AND ADAPTED TO BE SEVERED THEREWITH FROM SAID REMAINDER OF SAID BODY; A SEVERING DEVICE COMPRISING A TYPE HOLDER THEREON HAVING A TRACK INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED SURFACES CORRESPONDING TO AND TO ENGAGE SAID TRACK SURFACES OF SAID BODY TO SUPPORT SAID BODY, MEANS ON SAID DEVICE TO GUIDE SAID BODY ALONG A PATH OF MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF SEVERING POSITION, 